verb

bow out

BOW owt

Bow out (verb) means to withdraw from a contest, role or commitment, especially gracefully and by your own choice. Example: “She bowed out of the race two weeks before the vote.”

verb

To withdraw from a contest, role or commitment, especially gracefully and by your own choice.

"She bowed out of the race two weeks before the vote."

"After thirty years behind the bar, he's bowing out at the end of the month."

Of a team or competitor, to be eliminated from a competition.

"They bowed out in the quarter-finals on penalties."

How to Use Bow out

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo leave something you were part of, usually politely and on your own terms.

When to use it

Neutral and common in journalism, especially sport and politics. It carries a note of dignity that 'quit' or 'drop out' does not.

Memory tip

'Bow out of' takes the thing you are leaving: bow out of the contest, the tournament, the role.

Easily confused with

back out drop out bail out

Common pairings

bow out gracefully bow out of the race bow out at the top bow out in the semi-finals

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Synonyms

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withdraw step down retire pull out quit exit crash out go out

Antonyms

enter step up join

Related Words

come stop death pay leave board record break

Rhymes for bow out

out tout bout gout lout pout rout about trout spout clout grout

See all rhymes for bow out →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'bow out' and 'back out'?

'Bow out' is a dignified departure, often after a long involvement, and implies no fault. 'Back out' means withdrawing from something you had already agreed to, and usually suggests you have let someone down.

Does 'bow out' mean to retire?

It can, and it is a common polite way of saying so. But it also covers leaving a single race, contest or project, not just ending a whole career.

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